STAYING FIT

Beacon Of Hope

Maximize Fitness Ball

L

Grant enables health coalition
to raise quality of healthcare.

Advancing Quality Health Care
Through 1.T. & Collaboration

Southeast Michigan Beacon Community Collaborative

Nancy Schlichting of Bloomfield Hills, president and CEO, Henry Ford Health
System; David Blumenthal, M.D., of Boston; and Robert Jackson of Allen Park, M.D.,

chair, Southeast Michigan Health Information Exchange, take questions at the end

of a press conference.

T

he Southeastern Michigan
Health Association has been
awarded $16.2 million from
the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services to participate in the
national Beacon Community Cooperative
Agreement Program. National
Coordinator for Health Information
Technology David Blumenthal, M.D.,
made the announcement recently at
Henry Ford Health System corporate
offices in Detroit.
Beacon is one of several new pro-
grams created by the Health Information
Technology Economic and Clinical Health
Act, as part of the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009. The Beacon
communities program will use health
IT resources as a foundation for bring-
ing doctors, hospitals, community health
programs, federal programs and patients
together to improve quality, safety and
efficiency.
Each Beacon community sets goals for
improvement in three healthcare areas:
quality, cost-efficiency and population
health.
The $16.2 million award will be used
to create the Southeast Michigan Beacon
Community Collaborative and develop
an innovative health IT pilot program
in Metro Detroit to improve informa-
tion sharing and continuity of care for

underserved patients with chronic dia-
betes in Detroit, Hamtramck, Highland
Park, Dearborn and Dearborn Heights.
According to SEMBCC, diabetes is preva-
lent in this target population, affecting
more than 12 percent of adults, or 93,000
people.
The initiative will link primary care
providers and hospital emergency rooms
to improve patient self-management of
diabetes and reduce avoidable hospital-
izations and emergency room use. A net-
work of patient navigators will be estab-
lished, providing access to the patients'
health histories and provide an online
tracking system to manage patient care.
In 2006, diabetes was the sixth leading
cause of death in Michigan; 2009 data
indicates diabetes in 23 percent of all
Detroit hospital discharges.
Work will begin this fall on the three-
year program.
The SEMBCC is a diverse, 60-mem-
ber consortium, led by the Southeast
Michigan Health Information Exchange.
Its membership includes six major health
systems (Beaumont Hospitals, Detroit
Medical Center, Henry Ford Health
System, Oakwood Healthcare System,
St. John Providence Health System and
Trinity Health), employers, physicians,
healthcare professional associations, and
other organizations.

❑

et's face it. No
one really likes to
exercise. OK, there
are those rare few who
love it, but we hate those
guys! For the rest of us,
finding something inter-
esting, productive and
fun can be a real chal-
lenge. But have no fear:
There is hope. I have
your answer.
Try a fit ball! These
are the larger exercise
balls that you can sit on and use
for standing or floor exercises.
Regardless of your fitness level, a fit
ball is an excellent tool to increase
your range of motion, flexibility and
strength. Even beginners pick up
the basics in no
time. It is a great
confidence builder
when getting start-
ed or re-started in
a regular exercise
regimen. For mid-
level exercisers,
the ball will be a
surprisingly chal-
lenging workout.
For the advanced
crowd, the ball
can take you up
a notch in basic
exercises like push-ups, squats,
planking and crunches.
I know what you men are think-
ing: "She's not talking to me! This
is a girl thing." Absolutely not. The
ball is an excellent tool for everyone.
It may be the best tool for working
your abs, back and obliques (twister
muscles). Since we all have those,
why not try it?
It is time to pull your ball out of
the basement. Come on; you know
you have one. Remember, it's in the
box next to the Pilates stuff you
bought off TV last year and the
Thigh Master from 1985! Let's make
sure you use the right-size ball. Here
are a couple of pointers:
• When purchasing a ball, there
are two basic sizes to check out:
55cc (centimeters) and 65cc; 55 is
for shorter legs and 65 for longer
legs. Keep your receipt; a lot of
times, the ball doesn't quite measure
up to the labeling.
• Fill up the ball until it is firm,
but still has a little give when you
sit on it.

• Clear the area you will
be working in. Move your-
self away from the wall and
any furniture. Move any
floor items out of the way.
Wear no-slip shoes (pref-
erably tennies) and make
sure the floor is dry or the
carpet is secure.
• Sit on the ball and place
your feet securely on the
ground in front of you, with
your feet lined up under
your knees and under your
hips. Your tush should be at the
same height or a little higher than
your knees. If this is not the case,
add or remove some air. If you are
still not comfortable, return it and
try another size or a different manu-
facturer.
• Now you are
ready to give the
ball a try!
Here is a basic
balance exer-
cise to get you
started on the
ball. Position
yourself as stated
above. Focus
on a spot at eye
level. Lift one
foot a few inches
off the ground.
Keep your other foot on the ground.
Use your core muscles to help your
balance. Be safe and put your foot
down when you become unstable.
Switch feet.
Remember, the ball gives an
advantage over other exercise
options because you are sitting on
an unstable surface. Although both
feet are on the ground, you have to
using your core muscles to keep you
stable on that ball.
So, for a great "Get Started Warm-
Up" on the ball and to find out my
surprisingly simple super move for
increasing flexibility throughout the
core, send me an e-mail at:
mblackfitness@yahoo.com .

Remember, the ball
gives an advantage
over other exercise
options because you
are sitting on an
unstable surface.

❑

Michelle Black is an American Council
on Exercise-certified personal trainer
and exercise instructor who has worked

with the Oak Park JCC for 10 years. She
teaches three ball classes at that JCC.
She trains individuals all over the Detroit

area. Michelle specializes in senior/
elderly exercise, post-rehab, and family

fitness.

October 28 • 2010

53